Cat flu

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Wondering if any of the resident cat experts have any ideas about how to get a sick cat to eat. Came back from work yesterday and found our 3 y/o male cat lying on the floor completely lethargic. He can get about the house - but isn't able to walk far without laying down again.

Took him to the vet today who gave him some antibiotic shots, guy told us the cat has a cold which should go away on its own in a few days.

What I'm concerned about is that the cat now hasn't eaten for two days (that I can tell), though he is taking water if I put the bowl right next to him. We've got to dropper feed him some antibiotics, but was wondering if there was any way to make him eat.

Its not ideal - but I've seen this in some pet food stores, if I can syringe feed him a little of this it will help keep his strength up perhaps.

Appreciate any advice - we've had this cat for 3 years and this is the first time he's ever gotten sick, so its a little scary.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Funnel and a stick!

[Mark&Steph 0]

You could probably try that or you can certainly feed him canned food through a syringe, as well, which is what we did with our cat who had liver cancer.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

seriously, if the cat is real lethargic you might want a vet.

[Otto 83]

Keep an eye on him overnight - may have to return to the vet - what worries me is I wonder if he swallowed something (some foreign object) and it is restricting him (I've hear of this happening and hope am way off base).

2+ Days is a long time for a cat (or anything) to not have eaten.

Edited September 1, 2009 by Otto und Karin

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Since he's taking water, you could offer him chicken or beef broth...or the water from canned tuna.

[Otto 83]

Since he's taking water, you could offer him chicken or beef broth...or the water from canned tuna.

Just occurred to me as well - if he won't take that - something is definitely amiss..

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

seriously, if the cat is real lethargic you might want a vet.

I went to the vet today.

[Mags 112]

Get some wet cat food, mix with warm water until it forms a thin paste. Get a plastic syringe and squirt it slowly into his mouth (usually from the side works). Repeat. This way he gets liquids and some food.

Good luck!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You could probably try that or you can certainly feed him canned food through a syringe, as well, which is what we did with our cat who had liver cancer.

Thanks will try the syringe - how do you liquefy the canned food to put in it?

[Malrothien 6]

YOU must get him to eat. Force feed him if you have to (get a syringe and Prescription AD Science Diet wet food from the vet). Cats have issues with their livers if they do not eat for more than 3 days. The livers begin to fail.

I am really saying that you have to get him to eat. Eating for cats after 3 days becomes a life or death matter.

You could probably try that or you can certainly feed him canned food through a syringe, as well, which is what we did with our cat who had liver cancer.

Thanks will try the syringe - how do you liquefy the canned food to put in it?

As I said above, get the Prescription AD. It's thin enough to be put through a syringe. Most cat food is diced and you need pureed food.

[newlyweds 0]

i hope your cat gets better soon. our cat had flu a few weeks back and he had severe diarrhea, i had to force him to eat, i held the food by his mouth all the time, and also maybe you can try to feed him more frequently. maybe you can offer him his food every 30 minutes.

His medications should be working after a few doses hopefully he'll be alright soon enough. Oh yeah, btw, maybe he ate something he shouldn't have that makes him lose his appetite.

When our cat was sick, i guessed he ddnt want to move around much coz he probably had a terrible stomachache since later on I saw he had diarrhea aside from his flu. Maybe you can ask the vet for something to give him for pain.

I know what I did was wrong, but when my cat was sick, i gave him an antispasmodic (for humans) I made it into powdered form then gave him about 1/8 of it.. the next day his appetite was better even though he still had diarrhea. On my side of the Philippines, the vets arent available 24/7 and this happened on a saturday night; no clinic on sundays either so I had to do something since he wasnt eating and there was already blood with his diarrhea.

Edited September 1, 2009 by Michey and Odessa

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Get some wet cat food, mix with warm water until it forms a thin paste. Get a plastic syringe and squirt it slowly into his mouth (usually from the side works). Repeat. This way he gets liquids and some food.

Good luck!

Cool thanks - answered my question.

[Kathryn41 3,207]

Is he stuffed up and having difficulty breathing? Cats don't eat food that they can't smell so if his sinuses are plugged then he isn't smelling the food. You could try canned human tuna and see if he will voluntarily eat that. One of the other things you can do is get the unflavoured pedialyte available at most groceries and pharmacies - get the small bottles because it doesn't keep. You can get a syringe and syringe that into the side of his mouth towards the back of his throat. Getting the electrolyte balance back up will help him to feel better. See if the vet can give you syringes with a bit bigger mouth on them and you can also try to syringe pure meat baby food into his mouth. You will probably have to thin it with a bit of water.

It is very important for cats to eat - they don't do fasting well as it leads to a break down in their liver and they can develop hepatic lipidosis. My 15 year old cat died of hepatic lipidosis brought on by anorexia even though we were force feeding her.

The fact that your cat is drinking liquids is a good sign so you may find getting babyfood very runny so he can lick it up will work. Make sure the food has no garlic added to it - garlic is actually toxic to cats and is sometimes added to baby food for flavouring. You could also try sprinkling dried catnip over top of the food - catnip is an appetite stimulant as well and it may also help him to feel better. When he feels better he will be more apt to eat. If he can smell food - like smelly tuna - he is more apt to eat.

If your cat doesn't start eating in a day or so ask your vet for advice. He/she might be able to give him a steroid shot as one of the side effects is increased appetite. There are other side effects as well though so it is not a preferred recourse.

Good luck - I hope he feels better soon.

Edited September 1, 2009 by Kathryn41

[Mags 112]

The fact that your cat is drinking liquids is a good sign so you may find getting babyfood very runny so he can lick it up will work. Make sure the food has no garlic added to it - garlic is actually toxic to cats and is sometimes added to baby food for flavouring.

Yup, we use the chicken one for sick kittens/cats at the shelter. Cats love it!